Abstract

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This paper explores the topic of celebrity gossip within the UK journalism media industry.

Celebrity gossip refers to the act of sharing content that is not necessarily true, about individuals in the public eye. Often for audience entertainment purposes, celebrity gossip can range from topics such as scandal, relationships and appearance, more often using a negative tone to convey this.

While there is an abundance of pre-existing research about the techniques used by journalists, this dissertation focuses on the impact that this has on mental health.

Research will primarily consist of referring to journalistic celebrity gossip, particularly through the means of tabloid journalism.

Conducting a content and discourse analysis, this research references the case study of Caroline Flack in order to specifically demonstrate the language used by the UK media to report about celebrities. Conducting quantitative research through the use of interviews, provides information about the significance of celebrity gossip to a niche audience of women aged between twenty - twenty five. This research seeks to build on theoretical findings, to establish the impact that celebrity gossip has on mental health and popular media culture.

Acknowledgements

Firstly, I would like to thank my lecturer Matthew Freeman, for all of his support throughout my dissertation module and for inspiring my interest in mass media marketing. I would also like to thank my lecturer Rebecca Feasy, for her continued enthusiasm and the support she brings to Media Communications. Together, your dedication and passion for this course has made all three years of my degree so enjoyable and interesting. I could not have completed this dissertation without your support.

Secondly, I could not have done this without the continued support and sympathy from my parents, who have always been there for me whenever it has become tough as well as being so excited to hear my happiest memories. I am incredibly grateful to be able to share my university experience with you and I hope that I have made you proud in doing so.

I would also like to thank my flatmates and course friends, who I have met during my time at university. Not only for making these three years so enjoyable and providing the best memories, but also for shaping me into the person I have grown to become. I am grateful for the confidence I have gained, life lessons I have learnt (especially finally learning to cook) and habits I have picked up. I hope to remain friends for life and to continue to share our journeys together.

 

 

 

 

1. Introduction

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This dissertation explores the concept of celebrity gossip, mental health and popular media culture. Research will seek to explore how significant the impact of journalistic celebrity gossip is on mental health.

The term gossip describes the act of sharing information, or spreading rumours, regarding aspects of an individual’s life. Gossip primarily concerns topics such as conflict, scandal, as well as private romantic and platonic relationships. Typically, gossip discourse is not complimentary, particularly when focused on instances of conflict and scandal. This begs the question of why is celebrity gossip is so popular among audiences, when content is typically negative?

Using theorist Graeme Turner’s argument that ‘Celebrity content has become fundamental to the news media in the twenty-first century’ (Graeme Turner, 2010: 11), this dissertation examines the techniques used by journalists to report about celebrity gossip and the impact that this consequently has on mental health and popular media culture.

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Analysing the impact of journalism on mental health is now more vital than ever, as cases of ill mental health due to gossip discourse is becoming more frequently seen within celebrities.

To understand this, the literature review chapter outlines a broad overview of research concerning the functions of celebrity gossip, defining the concept of tabloidization as well exploring the modes of discourse used by journalists to present gossip. It is also relevant to discuss the ethics of celebrity gossip reporting, discussing the issues and implications that occur, as well as past examples of UK journalism scandals, in order to examine current attempts of regulating the mass media. Furthermore, research will focus on discourse concerning the appearance of the celebrity body, as well as the fragility of celebrity mental health.

The methodology chapter will be used to demonstrate research regarding a case study of Caroline Flack. Throughout the methodology, a discourse and content analysis regarding five British tabloid articles will be used to identify the negative tone and language used within journalistic celebrity gossip involving Flack throughout the years 2019 – 2020. In addition, quantitative research using ten separate interviews with a specific audience (of women aged between twenty - twenty five) in an aim to acquire quantitative research of societal perceptions, with relation to the research within the literature review chapter.

 

Wider social context

Examining the impact of celebrity gossip discourse is becoming increasingly relevant within popular media culture. Within this research, it is also necessary to consider the wider social context of how audiences consume journalistic content. Using Ofcom’s report of news consumption in 2019, it was found that the ‘internet is the most-used platform for news consumption among sixteen to twenty four [year olds]’. (Ofcom, 2019). Furthermore, it was also found that in the following year, ‘70% of individuals read or download online news’ (Ofcom, 2020). Using these statistics, we learn that the majority of young adults consume news content through online sources. It is also a common occurrence for journalism to become a trending topic on social media platforms. Due to this, audiences rapidly lose interest in certain topics if they fail to remain relevant.

Therefore, this topic has been chosen for investigation as there is an absence of updated research with regards to the modern celebrity and online media.

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1.1 Research Aims

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Focusing on the topic of celebrity discourse, this dissertation is aimed at finding out how influential journalistic celebrity gossip is within society and the impact this discourse has on mental health.

My research aims to demonstrate how tabloid journalism works to present information to an audience, particularly analysing subjects chosen, tone and their language use. Overall, I will be focusing on the negative impact that celebrity gossip articles within tabloid journalism have on the mental wellbeing of society and celebrities. I am also aiming to understand why celebrity gossip is so popular among audiences.

This will be presented using pre existing research within a literature review, as well as conducting a content and discourse analysis into articles concerning the case study of Caroline Flack, as well as qualitative research through the method of audience interviews.

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2. Literature review

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The aim of this literature review is to highlight the theoretical framework surrounding the topic of celebrity gossip discourse. My research is divided into four key sections of discussion, beginning with understanding the concept of tabloidization and the main types of gossip discourse. Research will also be debating the ethics of journalism, with reference to previous press scandals. Finally, research will focus on two key areas of celebrity gossip, consisting of the appearance of the celebrity body and the mental health of celebrities by discussing and analysing representations.

This literature review will present a theoretical background of information, in order to discuss the topic of tabloid journalism and celebrity gossip in a broader context. Using this research to develop an overview of how journalists report on celebrity gossip.

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2.1 Tabloidization and Gossip Discourse

Outlining the creation of journalism is vital to the understanding of celebrity gossip discourse. Firstly, looking at the transformation of news journalism, described as ‘tabloidization’. The term tabloidization is defined as ‘the refinement of commercialised journalism which prioritises the desires of advertisers to reach large audiences’ (Martin Conboy, 2005: 207). Essentially, it is a way to describe the occurrence of ‘news media turning to sensationalism, entertainment and the realm of private affairs’ (Sofia Johansson, 2006: 344).

Theorist Graeme Turner explains how the transformation of news and the process of tabloidization is usually considered to ‘sacrifice information for entertainment, accuracy for sensation, and to employ tactics of representation which entrap and exploit its subjects’ (2014: 84). Turner goes on to describe this type of reporting as ‘bonk journalism’, which he states is ‘deliberately salacious and careless of its effect on the persons concerned’ (Turner, 2014: 83).

Therefore, by tabloid content as a form of entertainment, we can infer that tabloid journalism ‘serves purpose beyond simply conveying politically relevant information’ (Johansson, 2008 403)

Charlotte De Backer and Maryanne Fisher’s Tabloids as Windows into our Interpersonal Relationships (2012) informs us about the two most common methods of celebrity gossip discourse used within tabloid journalism.

De Backer and Fisher use the term Strategy Learning Gossip to describe the instance in which the content of discourse is less direct and ‘the identity of the person, who is the subject of gossip, is less important, and instead, what happened to the person who is the subject of gossip’ (De Backer and Fisher, 2012: 407). Whereas the term Reputation Gossip can be used to describe the instance in which ‘the gossip at hand alters the opinion about the person who is the subject of the gossip’ (De Backer and Fisher, 2012: 408). Therefore, using celebrity reputation gossip has an impact on the subject’s societal reputation, as the gossip is focused on the individual, rather than what happened to them. Referring to the concept of tabloidization, it is clear that this form of journalism largely involves the use of reputation gossip, as it is regarded as exploiting its subjects.

When applying this distinction in the context of celebrity gossip, it is important to understand which mode of communication is being used to report about a particular subject. De Backer and Fisher continue to explain that when reporting using reputation gossip and ’a widely known celebrity is the subject, producers can trigger the interest of a wide audience’ (2012: 408). From this, we can learn that producers of mass media gossip may frequently produce content referring to a specific individual, using reputation gossip, in an aim to intrigue a wider audience.

However, they go on to inform us that using reputation gossip can also cause controversy, noting that ‘producers of mass media gossip risk losing audience members who feel upset about the reputation gossip’ which is not ‘congruent with their personal feelings towards the celebrities’ (De Backer and Fisher, 2012: 409). This, therefore, suggests that when producing gossip discourse, it is important to ensure that the reputation of the subject of gossip is not compromised. This is to ensure that there is no controversy among a mass audience who may disagree.

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2.2 Reporting Ethics

When researching the production of news media, it is necessary to debate how ethical reporting techniques, often used by journalists, actually are. Firstly, by recognising the issue of spreading false information. Using Chris Frost’s Journalism Ethics and Regulation, Frost argues that ‘virtually all news sources provide information that is distorted’ (Frost, 2015: 72). He goes on to inform us that the two main reasons why journalism presented by a media outlet might not be truthful are the ‘pressure of time or resources’ and ‘desire to increase readership’ (Frost, 2015: 70).’ This research provides a clear argument that journalism can be deemed unethical, due to knowingly publicising misleading information.

However, within his research, Frost also argues that, while it is an issue, publishing false information is actively encouraged by consumers. He goes on to say that ‘a media brand that is not trusted might still sell because its material is seen as entertaining’ and that ‘if a media outlet is just aiming to entertain readers in this way, then it does not need to provide accurate information because that is not what its market wants.’ (Frost, 2015: 74).

This point is interesting to consider, as it is suggested that readers are more engaged when information may not be considered accurate. While the concept of publishing false information is arguably unethical, it is not necessarily rejected by audiences as it is favoured for entertainment purposes.

Secondly, acknowledging the issue of defamation. Frost explains that there are also ‘issues to consider when journalists publish something that might damage someone’s reputation’ (Frost, 2015: 132). Similar to the previously mentioned distinction between that of strategy learning gossip and reputation gossip, the first issue to consider is regarding identity – which begs the question ‘Will the person being written about be identifiable?’ (Frost, 2015: 132). Issues can arise when details of the subject of discussion are publicised, for instance, referring to the name of an individual instead of respecting the right to anonymity.

Furthermore, another issue to consider is that it has to be proved ‘whether the words [in an article] are defamatory’ (Frost, 2015: 132). What is considered to some as exemplifying defamation of character can be negotiable to others, as there is not a clear definition between what should be regarded as damaging and what should not.

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Finally, it is necessary to consider the ethics concerning how information is obtained and privacy. Breaching of privacy involves disrespecting an individual's right to remain private about certain information that is not deemed to be necessary public knowledge.

This was exemplified by a journalism privacy scandal in 2011. Described by Graeme Turner as ‘widespread abuse of the media’s power’ (Turner, 2014: 83), an investigation was launched following the allegation that journalists were ‘hacking into the mobile phones of celebrities, members of the royal family and other newsworthy persons for material’ (Turner, 2014: 83). This led to the Leveson Inquiry (2012), which ‘recommended a new independent body with greater control over the UK press’ (Andrew McStay, 2017: 30). Following this, there was a significant emphasis on the debate concerning the ethics of journalism techniques.

Turner argues that ‘from an ethical point of view, it would be hard not to regard the tabloid press simply as predators in this context – keen to exploit any item of scandalous news to the full and at whatever cost to those concerned’ (Turner, 2014: 83). This statement is consistent towards the concept of defamation when debating how ethical current reporting techniques are.

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2.3 The celebrity body

The celebrity body is undoubtedly a frequent topic within mass media gossip. For this section, research is largely gender specific, focusing on representations of the female celebrity body. To cite Kirsty Fairclough, ‘preoccupation in the media with the faces and bodies of celebrities is firmly centred on women, and discourses surrounding the female body are deeply embedded in the currency of the gossip industry’ (Kirsty Fairclough 2012: 3).

In her research on the topic of celebrity gossip, Su Holmes informs us that ‘it is clear that the star/celebrity body has become increasingly central to the ways in which famous people are represented and consumed’ (Su Homes, 2008: 22).

An analysis into the manner in which the female body is depicted within tabloid news ‘found that celebrity gossip magazines frequent their sections with the capturing of celebrity through a more explicitly unflattering lens.’ (Su Holmes, 2005: 26) This imagery can range from ‘An unforgiving pose, or images displaying everything from a protruding stomach to spots’ (Holmes, 2005: 26). This demonstrates the detail of which celebrities are examined by the tabloid press, using invasive imagery that the subjected celebrity has little to no control over regarding its publication. To use an example, this genre’s ‘surveillance of the female body takes many forms, think ‘beach body’ headlines and plastic surgery before and afters’ (McDonald, 2014: 93)

Using research by Andrea McDonald in Reading Celebrity Gossip Magazines (2014), we are informed that celebrity gossip journalism ‘zealously track minute changes in the form, colour, shape and display of female bodies and body parts in a manner that has not been heretofore seen’ (McDonald, 2014: 93).

Holmes also similarly refers to this in her own research, goes on to say that ‘the celebrity self is to be prodded, probed and exposed in such a way that revels in the processes of corporeal fabrication (Su Holmes, 2008: 22). From this research, it is clear that celebrity gossip journalism involves exposing celebrities in a way that would not publicly be revealed.

Furthermore, when looking into mass media gossip, it is additionally important to understand the general topics of discourse present. Looking into Kirsty Fairclough’s (2012) work on female celebrity, ageing and hyper-scrutiny in the gossip industry, Fairclough suggests the most apparent style of mass media gossip is presenting the celebrity as a gruesome object. Fairclough informs us that, in the gossip industry, ‘this term normally refers to a celebrity whose surgery is constructed as grotesque and who has undergone several obvious procedures that have resulted in a look that has been deemed as having ‘gone too far’ and has become shocking and gristly. (Fairclough 2012: 96).

Secondly, ‘the desperate’ celebrity can be seen as another category of gossip discourse. Fairclough describes this as concerning celebrities ‘desperate to remain youthful in order to suspend time and reclaim their once glittering careers and images but are often failing at both’ (2012: 97). Fairclough suggests that celebrities such as Nicole Kidman and Pamela Anderson often fit into the category of the ‘desperate’ celebrity.

Lastly, described as ‘the sanctioned’ celebrity, Fairclough states that this term refers to ‘celebrities who are positioned by the gossip industry as ageing well and who have purportedly employed the technologies of cosmetic surgery in ‘acceptable’ ways according to the post-feminism and who are held up as beautiful, womanly and appropriately female (2012: 98). These females are often individuals who receive more neutral or positive gossip reporting than those described as ‘desperate’ and ‘gruesome’. Fairclough suggests that celebrities such as Sandra Bullock and Halle Berry can be examples of ‘sanctioned’ celebrities.

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2.4 The fragility of celebrity

When concerning the topic of mental health, it is also important to recognise the impact of these instances of invasive and negative discourse. This will be focused on acknowledging mental health and the representations of fragility in celebrity reporting, referring to Stephen Harper’s (2012) work on Madly Famous: narratives of mental illness in celebrity culture, we are informed that the ‘mental illness of celebrities in contemporary media culture reveals the truth about the celebrity concerned, reminding ordinary people of what celebrities are really like’ (Harper, 2012: 321)

The ‘downfall’ of an individual in the public eye has become significant to celebrity reporting, particularly since the ‘tabloidization’ of news, which we previously learnt from Turner, is not mindful in recognising the impact on the persons concerned. These representations of celebrity mental health are stated by Fairclough to actively reinforce post-feminism concerns by ‘suggesting that women may be able to have it all but must also engage in the constant maintenance of the self in order to remain beautiful, employable, marriageable and ultimately happy.’ (Kirsty Fairclough, 2008, 8). Using Fairclough’s statement, we are informed that there is a stigma surrounding the representation of mental health instability within celebrity gossip journalism. The idea that women must actively maintain a stable presentation of themselves, in order to remain ultimately happy.

This, in turn, reinstates the question as to why gossip reporting is so popular within public readership, particularly when discourse is so often of a negative and derogatory tone.

Interestingly, research by Andrea McDonald informs us that ‘when exposed to an endless parade of exceptionally thin, gorgeous and wealthy celebs, readers express their frustration with these unrealistic norms by taking pleasure in celebrity failure’ (Andrea McDonald, 2014: 102). This notion that women take pleasure in celebrity failure can be seen to act as a form of escapism from the idyllic lifestyle and ideology of what constitutes as the ‘perfect’ female. McDonald goes on to say that the idea that ‘even rich and famous women find it difficult to live up to strict and feminine ideals, provides readers with a welcome, if temporary, relief from the strain of these moral codes’ (McDonald, 2014, 102). Therefore, from McDonald’s research we learn that consumers of celebrity gossip take pleasure in reading stories concerning the fragility of celebrities as a form of peace from the stress of attaining the idealistic lifestyle.

Similar research also found that female magazine readers admit that the ‘misery of others made them feel better about their own lives or helped them deal with their own frustrations or sorrow’ (Hermes cited in Harper 2012: 318). This further supports the concept that women actively use negative discourse within journalistic celebrity gossip in order to not only escape their own reality, but as a comparative tool for dealing with their own personal battles.

In order to change the ways in which tabloid outlets operate celebrity reporting,

Harper argues that ‘media critics need increasingly not only to focus on the old, and continuing, problem of media misrepresentations of mental illness.’ (Harper, 2012: 317). It is also suggested that ‘Journalists should be sceptical about everyone, seeing them as neither good nor bad but merely human’ (Frost, 2015: 72). Harper goes on to note that journalists should ‘become more critical of certain assumptions within anti-stigma discourse’ (Harper, 2012: 317).

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3. Methodology

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The aim of this research is to explore the impact of media gossip reporting on celebrity mental health and society. Using qualitative data as exploratory research, to gain an understanding of underlying emotions caused by consuming celebrity gossip discourse.

I will be using two methods to collect data; Firstly, using a case study to conduct a content and discourse analysis of articles published by British tabloid outlets. Secondly, using interviews with a specific target audience to gain an understanding of the impact this has on societal perceptions.

The focus of the content and discourse analysis will be looking at a case study of British Television and reality show presenter Caroline Flack. This section will involve an assessment of five of the most negative articles that are currently available concerning Flack between the years 2019 - 2020, in order to gain an understanding of media gossip and criticism. Conducting a discourse analysis allows for a more specific understanding of the language and tone frequently used by tabloid media journalists.

For my second research method, I will be conducting interviews, using a specific audience of ten females aged between twenty to twenty five. I will be examining their feelings towards current tabloid gossip discourse in order to gain an insight into public opinion. Furthermore, to remove any bias and understand how society has adapted information, these individuals will all have a pre-existing understanding of the case study of Caroline Flack. Combining a discourse analysis with one-to-one interviews enables a greater understanding about the impact of these pre-existing materials on societal perception, as well as identifying emotions caused.

Using one-to-one interviews resulted in the opportunity to gain a more in depth, emotional response from audiences.

This method of collecting data was also used by Sofia Johansson, in her research in Gossip, sport and pretty girls (2008). Johansson conducted interviews with ‘regular readers of the Sun or the Daily Mirror’ in an aim to find out ‘reader’s experiences of tabloids’ (Johansson, 2006, 404). This study was particularly useful in shaping research throughout this dissertation, as there were multiple similarities between the overall research aims. Due to this, interviews within this paper were conducted using a similar target audience, in the aim of producing similar results.

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3.1 Introducing the case study

In this section, I will be conducting an analysis into five celebrity gossip articles published by British tabloid journalists concerning Caroline Flack as the subject, throughout the years 2019 to 2020. It is important to note that this time frame also refers to that of Flack’s domestic assault allegations.

The recognised Television presenter, of Xtra Factor, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here NOW and Love Island, Caroline Flack committed suicide in February 2020. Throughout her public career, Flack was frequently subject to mass media attention.

Prior to her death, BBC news reported that Caroline Flack was facing trial accused of assaulting [Her partner] - a charge she denied (BBC News, 2020). News of this trial was rapidly publicised across British national news, particularly within the genre of gossip and entertainment and, it was noted that, "For some, it seems [Flack] had a charmed life - but the more famous she got the more mentally distressed she became, her trauma was played out in the national press and that was incredibly distressing for her." (BBC News, 2020)

With reference to the literature review, it is evident that Caroline Flack was subject to De Backer’s definition of Reputation Gossip (De Backer and Fisher, 2012: 408) in reference to the repetition of defamatory comments challenging her reputation.

Using a study by The Guardian (2020) into the case of Caroline Flack, it was found that almost four hundred stories were published about Flack, and a review showed that a quarter of all these articles took a negative tone (The Guardian, 2020)

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3.2 Content and discourse analysis

Using a discourse analysis, this section will focus on critically examining the language used within tabloid publications concerning Caroline Flack to acknowledge the extent of media coverage prior to her death. Discourse refers to the messages and meanings circulated through and around media. Discourse refers to interactions that take place through media and media culture, to create a widespread meaning or understanding. Using five articles published about Caroline Flack between 2019-2020 that are deemed to have the most negative language use. It is important to acknowledge that articles published about Flack between 2019 - 2020 were often referring to her domestic violence allegations.

Firstly, I will be analysing two tabloid articles and focusing on their language use, within their headlines, to represent Caroline Flack in December 2019. Referring to the headlines (see below figure 1) ‘Flack sack and whack for ITV’ (The Sun, 2019) and (figure 2) ‘Caroline Smack’. (Daily Star, 2019). This use of comedic language throughout the headlines clearly demonstrates the lack of sympathy provided by journalists regarding the star. Using comedic language within the headline immediately informs the audience that the article is constructed for entertainment purposes.

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(Figure 1: The Sun, 2019)

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(Figure 2: Daily Star, December 2019)

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Similarly, to analyse language use within the main body of text, I will be referring to the article, published by The Sun, titled ‘Brutal Caroline Flack Valentine's Day card mocks troubled star with “I'll f***ing lamp you” message’ (The Sun, 2020). The article, which was published in February 2020, one day before Flack’s suicide, uses comedic language such as ‘Pokes fun at the forty year old’s upcoming trial’, and ‘no Flacks given’ continues to present a tone of entertainment to an audience. Furthermore, using the term ‘pokes fun’ encourages the reader that it is acceptable to refer to this situation as entertainment. This therefore is also an example of Frost’s research, which explains that tabloid articles sell because they are ‘seen as entertaining’ (Frost, 2015: 74).

Furthermore, in January 2020, The Sun published an article (seen below in figure 4) with the headline ‘Caroline’s bedroom bloodbath’ (The Sun, 2020), with the purpose to inform readers about her domestic assault allegation. In regard to the sensitive topic of discussion, using strategy learning gossip would have been appropriate in order to report about what happened, rather than discourse concerning who it happened to. This also relates back to what Frost regards as issues with journalism techniques, as journalists openly reveal Flack’s identity, rather than primarily focusing on the situation. Including Caroline’s name in the headline immediately informs the reader who the article is about, rather than focusing on what happened and answering the question of ‘Will the person being written about be identifiable?’ (Frost, 2015: 132).

 

(Figure 4: The Sun, 2020)

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Finally, the last article included within this content and discourse analysis was published by the Daily Star of Scotland in December 2019. This article was chosen due to the breaching of privacy, for the purpose of reporting about a specific situation.

As shown below in figure 5, the title ‘Flack in court’ immediately informs readers that this article will include details about Caroline Flack’s court hearing. Furthermore, language used throughout the headline ‘She’s tried to kill me’, draws on a confidential quote by Flack’s boyfriend Lewis Burton. Due to the breach of confidentiality, this front page demonstrates the ethical issues that arise with journalism. Drawing on previous research within the literature review chapter, this is also an example of Turner’s argument that the tabloid journalists are often ‘keen to exploit any item of scandalous news to the full and at whatever cost to those concerned’ (Turner, 2014: 83).

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Similarly, the subheadings ‘Frantic 999 call after attack’ and ‘Star can’t see lover till March’ also reinstates the concept of the Leveson Inquiry, which called for the introduction of press regulations to govern what is necessary as public knowledge, and what is not.

(Figure 5: The Daily Star of Scotland, 2019)

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3.3 Quantitative research

To build on the discourse analysis, interviews will be aimed at finding out a societal response to scandal and gossip content within tabloid media. Using a sample of ten women aged between twenty to twenty five, I chose to have an open discussion regarding their personal consumption of news media and celebrity gossip. Typically, tabloid articles concerning the topic of celebrity gossip would be targeted towards a demographic of young adults, most commonly female. Therefore, applying this to my own research, I wanted to find out how modern audiences consume celebrity gossip and how this has an impact on their perceptions, especially in regard to mental health and wellbeing. Prior to the interviews, participants were selected as those with pre-existing knowledge regarding Caroline Flack, in order to receive first-hand accounts of tabloid influence from a societal perspective.

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4 Discussion and analysis

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4.1 The impact of celebrity gossip on society

To begin my interviews, I opened with the question ‘How involved are you with celebrity culture? Do you actively engage in reading articles, either online or in print, concerning the topic of celebrity gossip?’. Unsurprisingly, given the niche of my target audience, all responses stated that they were involved in keeping up with celebrity culture, and actively engaged in reading articles. However, it is interesting to note that all responses collect their celebrity gossip information via online sources, such as Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook. By using social media, users are able to repost and share articles to followers. One respondent stated “I would say I’m involved in celebrity culture…I don’t actively go out of my way looking for articles but if I see them posted on Twitter or Snapchat, about a celebrity I know, then I’ll read them.” Similarly, another replied “If I see articles posted on Facebook or Instagram, I will click on them. I don’t go actively looking for them.” This demonstrates that news media has become more of an act of online sharing and free scrolling for the young adult generation, rather than an act of purchasing a newspaper or magazine in print. Social media apps and websites are now the highest contributor towards the circulation of tabloid articles.

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Referring to this question, it is also interesting to acknowledge how reluctant my responses were to admit that they have participated in reading tabloid and celebrity gossip articles. For example, one respondent informs us that they avoid looking at news organisations such as the Daily Mail, as it is seen to be “nonsense”. Similarly, another participant shared that they “are not proud of” their consumption of celebrity gossip journalism. This therefore suggests that young adults are beginning to feel ashamed and guilty about reading celebrity gossip content, particularly as they already believe it to be “nonsense”.

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Secondly, I wanted to find out what genre of tabloid gossip was most prevalent in their reading. To do this, I asked the question ‘Are there any topics that you particularly enjoy, or find yourself most frequently reading? (for example; scandal, relationships or private lives). Surprisingly, eighty percent of the replies to this question followed a similar pattern. Scandal appeared to be the most popular topic of celebrity gossip, followed by private lives and relationships. One response explained “Scandal most likely, as it’s more exciting than hearing about a celebrity doing something quite mundane”. From this, we can infer that scandal is popular among audiences for entertainment purposes, which refers back to the research found within the literature review chapter. Using Frost, we learnt that the consumer market for celebrity gossip wants to be entertained.

Furthermore, one respondent also raised an important point, mentioning that they are “Always asking people if they’ve seen what certain celebrities have done now”. This statement therefore demonstrates how important celebrity gossip is for social discourse, encouraging a variety of people to engage over a shared interest and knowledge. Interestingly, referring back to the literature review, these responses also support Chris Frost’s research that journalistic celebrity gossip sells because audiences want to engage with entertainment, even though it is not necessarily true.

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“I like to know about celebrities' private lives. I enjoy reading scandals as well because I like knowing what’s going on and it’s a reminder that celebrities are real human beings.”

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Furthermore, it is important to understand the impact that celebrity gossip articles have on society’s perceptions. To find this out, I asked my audience the question ‘Would you agree or disagree that these articles can have an impact on the way you would view someone in the public eye, both positively or negatively? The response to this question followed a similar pattern, with majority responses saying that they would view someone negatively if they were to read negative discourse about them in news articles.

However, what was particularly interesting to find was that many of the answers included a point in that they (the audience) are aware that the information they read is not “necessarily real”, “untrue” and “most likely exaggerated”. One participant commented about how they “commonly listen to podcasts where celebrity guests discuss their treatment by journalists and how false the information is”. This informs us that the public are beginning to consciously debate how realistic journalists present news topics, particularly regarding celebrity gossip.

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However, it was also shown in my results that this is not always the case. One respondent argued that “you just assume [tabloids] must be somewhat reliable.” Another stated that “the news will publish something that the celebrities wouldn’t actually post themselves, so you would automatically believe what you read as it’s something you wouldn’t know otherwise”.

Thus, demonstrating that tabloids follow De Backer’s (2012) definition of reputation gossip, due to the alteration of opinions towards a certain individual, who is the subject of the article.

When referring to De Backer’s definition of reputation gossip, it is also interesting to note that one respondent replied suggesting that “tabloids are crowd pleasers and tend to post what the general public opinion is about someone, as you don’t see negative articles about celebrities the public typically like”. This statement therefore also supports De Backer’s research that reputation gossip can be controversial, as producers of mass media gossip could risk upsetting an audience if an individual is represented in a way that is not already perceived by the public.

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To develop this concept that celebrity gossip has a negative impact on society and mental health, the question “How does reading celebrity gossip discourse make you feel about yourself? (i.e, body shaming, ageing, mental health, etc) was asked in order to understand an emotive perspective.

Surprisingly, my research found that when celebrity gossip concerns the topic of appearance, my audience displayed dissimilar opinions. One participant stated that celebrity gossip discourse “makes the reader feel better about themselves”. This was explained by another participant, who stated that “it makes [a celebrity] more relatable and I am able to remember that they have experienced the same things that I am insecure about”. This is interesting to consider, as it can be inferred that audiences use celebrity gossip as a comparative tool. In doing this, audiences are comforted by the idea that they are not alone with their insecurities, as they are informed that celebrities share the same emotions. This can also be used as an explanation as to why celebrity gossip remains so popular, as audiences are reliant on this content in order to make themselves feel better.

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Similarly, when the topic of scandal is concerned, audiences demonstrate a similar pattern of responses. One participant stated that “celebrities' lives are better than ours. They’re rich and famous…but then they have a scandal”. With reference to my literature review, this type of escapism can be seen within McDonald’s research, ‘the idea that even rich and famous women find it difficult to live up to strict and feminine ideals’ (McDonald, 2014, 102)

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It is also important to note that one participant informed us that “I think that’s what tabloids are good for…showing the real life parts that you don’t see elsewhere.” This is particularly considerable, as it further demonstrates why journalistic celebrity gossip is popular, as audiences use it to gain information that they would not otherwise be exposed to.

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“I think it makes me feel better about myself because I’m not going through a scandal! I definitely think that way if it’s a celebrity I don’t like. Celebrities' lives are supposed to be better than ours. They’re rich and famous…but then they have a scandal, or something happens to them.”

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However, in contrast, responses also demonstrated that for some, celebrity gossip does have a negative impact on the way they view themselves. Particularly in regard to the female body. Forty percent of respondents stated that they frequently “compare themselves” to the celebrities included within tabloid discourse, particularly if an article was shameful of a certain body image. This level of comparison was noted by one participant to consequently lead an audience to “question society’s views about what is seen as the ideal body standard”, as w

However, as previously mentioned, this is not consistent with their feelings towards the “false” information found within celebrity gossip.

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Interestingly, one respondent commented that “I think in terms of mental health, [journalists] usually report on how celebrities have overcome certain problems, as opposed to supporting them when they were going through this.”

The participant goes on to say that “When someone is suffering, there can be a lack of sympathy from the tabloids, but then this becomes glamorised once they are ‘better’”. This statement is interesting to consider, as it allures us to the idea that mental health discourse often concerns the growth of an individual, choosing rather to focus on the recovery, than raise awareness and support.

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4.2 Caroline Flack

To build on my previous research of Caroline Flack’s treatment by the media, I wanted to find out how responsible audiences felt that tabloid and gossip journalists should be held, with regards to Flack’s reportedly ill mental health.

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To do this, participants were asked the question “In regards to Caroline Flack, to what extent do you agree that the tabloid and gossip media should be held somewhat responsible for her ill mental health?

Following this, it was found that all respondents openly sympathised with this case, arguing that, to at least some degree, the tabloid and gossip media should be held accountable. One response in particular stated that “[journalists] dictated what the public knew about [Flack] and also dictate what the public see as the facts”. Consistent with previous results, it is apparent that audiences are becoming more sceptical concerning the information that they read about celebrity gossip, particularly online, which is therefore further demonstrated by their feelings towards the treatment of Caroline Flack.

In addition, as previously stated, this interview ensured that all participants had somewhat reasonable knowledge of Caroline Flack’s case, whether through information obtained from generally consuming news, or private research. Therefore, although sample size is potentially small, consistent responses could also allure to the larger societal opinion.

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4.3 The future of tabloid media

Finally, in order to find out what my audience believes could be done to prevent this from recurring in the future, the question “Do you think something should be done in order to prevent this from happening in the future? If so, what?

This question was asked with reference to the 2012 Leveson Inquiry, which urged for press regulations following the revelation that news organisations were found to be invading the right to privacy on numerous accounts.

To this question, responses followed a similar pattern to the consensus towards the initial proposal by Leveson Inquiry.

Ninety percent of participants argued that “regulations should be put in place” in order to stop the production of negative discourse, as well as a “Governing body”, similar to Ofcom, with the power to monitor the authenticity and ethics prior to publication.

Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that the majority of responses stated that it would be appropriate and necessary for such regulations to be imposed as a “permanent rule” or even a “law”. This would consequently prevent regulations being compromised or forgotten. Interestingly, almost half of respondents also stated that in order for restrictions to work effectively, tabloid publications are required to, as one participant stated, “make it [their] ethos” to “ensure that rules are not manipulated”.

Similarly, one respondent also referred back to Caroline Flack, by acknowledging that, following her death, “there was a lot of anger towards the tabloids and petitions to try and stop this, but over time, it was forgotten about.” The participant goes on to say that, in order to prevent this from reoccurring, regulations “need to be revisited again and enforced much stronger.” This demonstrates the way in which audiences view the case of Caroline Flack as a trending topic, losing its relevance and strength over time. Due to this, the public believes that little change has been done in order to support or protect future victims of celebrity gossip.

Referring to the second question, it is also to be considered whether regulations will be recommended or strictly necessary in order to maintain appreciation towards the topic of celebrity gossip. Research found that audiences are growing increasingly aware of the issues concerning reputation gossip, resulting in the idea that actively gossip content is becoming an act of guilt, as opposed to open entertainment. This therefore could present an issue for journalists, as their readership may decrease if changes are not made.

As previously mentioned, ethics are important when conducting research. In order to ensure my research was ethical, I briefed my respondents on the overall topic of discussion prior to our conversation, to ensure they were comfortable.

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5. Conclusion

This final chapter concludes the dissertation and will discuss my overall argument and how significant my findings were.

This dissertation set out to discover the impact of celebrity gossip on mental health. In order to identify this, I combined research concerning journalistic techniques of celebrity gossip, as well using a reference of a case study of Caroline Flack’s suicide to specify my research. Furthermore, this chapter will reconsider the findings of my conducted research and reflect on the overall outcome of this project.

Overall summary

In conclusion, this dissertation supports the argument that journalistic publications of celebrity gossip profoundly contribute towards societal perceptions and mental health, impacting the way that we not only view ourselves, but also the lives of others.

Referring back to the literature review chapter, Graeme Turner’s research explained that celebrity gossip discourse has become necessary to tabloid reporting.

Such gossip discourse concerning celebrities typically focuses on the subject of the appearance of celebrities, commenting on and critiquing topics such as the body, weight and plastic surgery.

Moreover, in regard to mental health, celebrities are often scrutinised for appearing to be suffering. This presentation notably changes, following the improvement of a celebrity figure who is now better, thus glamourising their rehabilitation, rather than offering support or raising awareness.

This research within the literature review chapter demonstrates that the ways in which celebrity gossip would have a detrimental impact on mental health, as discourse is typically negative.

However, research within the literature review chapter was also used to acknowledge why celebrity gossip is so popular. This was found to be due to utilising it for entertainment purposes, as that was found to be what the ‘market wants’ market wants.’ (Frost, 2015: 74) as it ‘makes the audience feel better about their own lives’ (Hermes cited in Harper 2012: 318).

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Additionally, in reference to findings from conducted interviews, results evidenced that women aged between twenty to twenty five have found tabloid celebrity discourse has distorted their personal perception of themselves, as often, it is easy to use public sources as a comparative tool, especially at a young adult age.

Furthermore, these interviews also depicted how audiences utilise this information to perpetuate their opinions towards individuals within the public eye, especially within the genre of scandal. This was found after audiences noted that they used journalistic celebrity gossip to find out information that they would not necessarily find elsewhere.

However, it is interesting to acknowledge the changing perception towards tabloid media publications, as audiences consistently announced their scepticism and disbelief towards the articles they read online, as well as their reluctance to admit that they are active consumers. Therefore, this factor will contribute towards the way tabloid journalists operate in the future, as audiences are becoming more aware, and less reluctant to consume tabloid press due to its negative impact on mental health.

Overall, this dissertation focused on the topic of celebrity gossip, mental health and popular media culture. This dissertation successfully explained the impact of celebrity gossip discourse on mental health, justifying the argument that this impact is often negative, as well as concluding with the understanding of why this genre of news is so popular among audiences.

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Reflection

Overall, research throughout this dissertation was consistent with initial planning.

Research was conducted in a manner that ensured an abundance of theoretical information was presented to understand the written methods of celebrity gossip.

A discourse analysis of tabloid publications was used to provide a more specific understanding about the language used by journalists to discuss celebrity gossip, referring to the case study of Caroline Flack’s suicide in 2020.

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Furthermore, the methodology chosen ensured a way in which more descriptive and emotive research could be found. The use of one-to-one interviews resulted in the opportunity to gain a more in depth, emotional response from audiences. Regarding the nature of the discussion concerning mental health, choosing to engage with recipients caused a more ethical exchange, as an open discussion could be held.

However, in reflection, using one-to-one interviews poses a limitation on the scale of responses, resulting in a smaller sample size. Instead, to collect a wider range of quantitative data, a survey would have been conducted. Similarly, an online ethnography could have been conducted in an aim to understand the impact of celebrity gossip. Using Tweets and comments posted by users on social media and online news articles, sharing their own thoughts and opinions.

Although, regarding this dissertation, an online ethnography would have imposed limitations on data collection. This is due to news organisations immediately removing negative online gossip concerning Caroline Flack following the event of her suicide.

Due to the topics discussed within this dissertation, it is also important to consider how ethical one-to-one interviews are and ensure that participants do not feel vulnerable. Due to the nature of this dissertation regarding sensitive topics, such as mental health, participants were pre assessed for vulnerability to this subject and also made aware of the discussion topic prior to the interviews taking place. In doing this, the mental health of participants is focused and respected.

Additionally, this dissertation presented both sides of the overall argument, when presenting the ways in which celebrity gossip discourse impacts mental health. This is important as it correctly balances research with the purpose of creating an overall conclusion, by considering different findings and approaches.

 

 

Word Count: 8059

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